In 500 B.C., Babylonians used gold, silver, lead, iron, and copper to make vases and urns.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. They used only copper
• D. They used gold and silver only

Answer: (A)

In ancient Babylonian metalwork, a variety of metals were used to fashion vessels. Gold and silver were prized for ceremonial and decorative vases and urns, copper was widely used for practical wares, and iron began to appear in Mesopotamia by this period as smelting and trade advanced. Lead also appears in some metalworking contexts tied to vessels or fixtures. Given this range of metals accessible to Babylonian artisans by 500 B.C., the statement that vases and urns were made from gold, silver, lead, iron, and copper fits what is known about their metalworking practices.